You know what I’d do, if I could change any part of ADSOM?
I’d have a scene where Kell just... lets it all out.
Where instead of Osaron being all “ I’m totally evil, I’m gonna possess you, so on and so on,” during the collar scene, Osaron tries to manipulate Kell instead. Tells him it’s hopeless to try fighting and instead asks him why even bother in the first place. Osaron points out that nobody in Kell’s life is fighting for him, so it wouldn’t be so bad when Kell gives up fighting for them. Then he asks him how he feels about everything that’s happened.
Osaron asks about Maxim and Kell confesses he’s given up trying for Maxim’s affection, as it’s obvious the king doesn’t trust him anymore.
Osaron asks about Emira and Kell mourns the fact he can’t earn her forgiveness no matter how hard he tries, before Osaron points out that Kell for all intents and purposes has done all he can, and that Emira simply has her own issues to work through that aren’t Kell’s problem.
Osaron asks about Rhy and Kell says he wouldn’t change a thing, that Rhy has always been there for him and they will always be brothers. Osaron disappointedly agrees. No manipulation point there.
What about Lila? Kell starts talking about how he loves her, but something feels wrong with it, and Osaron cuts him off to say that Kell could have already had this conversation with someone if Lila was so emotionally immature all of the time. She always talks, never listens, and couldn’t care less what Kell needs.
And Holland? Kell could keep fighting forever and Holland will never give him the time of day, much less any sort of emotional depth or bond. Holland will only continue to hate him for things he can’t control and continue to hurt him with things like the collar for no reason other than he is expendable and hateable and nothing at all to Holland.
Does Kell still refuse to accept Osaron? Yes. But now Osaron is armed with a powerful weapon to use whenever he sees the others. When he sees Lila on the rooftop, he calls her a horrible thief and an even worse friend who uses everyone around her. When he battles Maxim, he tells him his relationship with his adopted son was over long before the king’s inevitable death, and that all Kell will remember him for is abuse and manipulation. When he tortures Rhy he enjoys telling him word for word the emotional burden Kell has been carrying, punctuating each confession with another blade. And when Holland confronts him in the final battle, both of them well aware what the Inheritor will do, Osaron congratulates him on becoming the new Athos for a soul who only ever wanted appreciation, one who will mourn him unapologetically forever if Holland dies. Which he does.
I don’t know if it would add anything to the story, but it would add to the conflict if Kell holds some resentment for only being able to share his emotions with an evil being of magic incarnate. And maybe it’d lead to some kind of conclusion to Kell’s emotional arc. Because I’m still upset that Maxim, Emira, and Lila got away with never hearing about how they made Kell feel.
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